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W. M. MILLER,

PIRE ESCAPE. NO- 295127 Patente a. 1?.,1884.

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. W. M. MILLER'.

` PIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Mar. 11.1884.

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vNrrs STATES WILLIAM M. MILLER, OFNEV CUMBERLAND, VVST' VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF TVOTHIRDS TO ROBERT HAMiLTON AND VILLIAM HOOPER, BOTH OF SAME PLAGE.

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SPECIFICATIONYforming part of Letters Patent No. 295,127, dated March 11, 1884.

Application {lellDccelnber 221883. (No modem l To CuZ- whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Cumberland, county of Hancock, State of 54 W'est Virginia, have invented or discovered a new and useful .Improvement in FireEscapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the ae- 1o icoinpanying drawings, making a part of this specication, in u-'hich-likeletters indicating like partsi Figure l is a perspective view of my i1nproved fire-escape attached to the Wall of a I house, and as folded up when not in use. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the lire-escape i open and ready for use. Fig. 3 is a sidevieW, showing the parts folded together. Fig. 4: is an enlarged side view, showing the rire-es- 2o cape ready for use. Fig. 5 is a perspective View, showing a modified forni of uprights.

My invention relates to t-hat class of ireescapes which consist of ladders permanently attached to the walls of a house and in con- 2 5 venient proximity to the Windows thereof.

Theobj ect of 1n y'invention is to so construct a re-escape of the class above referred to that when not needed it may be closed orfolded up against the wall of the house, so as k3o not to disiigure or present ari-unsightly object; and, in general terms, my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. t

`In the drawings, A indicates the Wallof a building, to which is secured, in convenient proximity to the Windows B, a ladder, C. The ladder C is formed of suitable lengths of angle-iron, c c', forming the uprights, and a se- .io ries of suitably-spaced :iron rounds or steps, a. The rounds a are formed of round bar-iron, and are provided at each end With eyes u. Through these eyes a', and into holes in one ofthe Bauges of the angle-iron, are passed and suitably secured therein headed bolts or rivets b. The bolts b should be of such size as to allow the eyes ofthe rounds to rotate around them, for a purpose tobe presently stated.

One of the angle-irons, as c', is preferably made shorter than the angle-iron c by an amount equal to the length of one of the rounds. At or near the top of the longer anglo-iron, c, is secured a sheave, d, over ywhich passes a chain or Wire rope, e, one of Whose ends is secured at or near the top of the shorter angle-iron, c', the opposite end of the chain or wire rope e being secured, after passing over the sheave d, to one end of a rod, j. The opposite or lower end of the rod f is pivoted to a lever7 g, near its center, and this lever 'g is pivoted to a lug, h, secured to the angle-iron c. Around the lower' end of the angle-iron c, I construct a box, Z, provided with adoor, in, which is adapted to be locked, when closed, by any suitable means.

The ladder constructed as above described is secured in any suitable manner by one of the iianges of the angleiron c. to the Walls of a house in convenient proximity to the Windows thereof. To prevent any lateral oscillation of the angle-iron c when the ladder is in use, I attach a bracerod, yn, to the topof the angle-iron c', and pivotally secure the opposite end of the brace to the Wall A. VVhie I have shown only one brace, I may, if necessary, employ tWo or. more, the number einployed being dependent upon the length of the ladder. v

When the ladder is not in use, it is to be folded up against the'wall of the house. This can be effected by pulling down on the handle end of the lever g, which Will pull down-the rod f and chain c, thereby raising the angleiron c and drawing it in against the angleiron c. It will be noticed that the parts are so adjusted that when the lever g has passed through an arc oi' one hundred and eighty degrees and again lies against the angle-iron c,

(see Fig. 3,) the angle-iron c will have been drawn in against the angle-iron c, and also that the rod f has passed beyond the pivot of the lever g,- hence it is necessary, in order to pull down the angle-iron c' in opening the ladder, that the lever g should be pulled out 'sufficiently to bring the rod f in front of the pivot of the lever. To open the ladder for use, I attach a handle, o, to the angle-iron c. Ihis handle o and the lever g should be located so as to be easily reached from the ground. The handle of the lever 0, when turned down, as shown in Figs. l and' 3, will be inside of the box Z, and therefore when the door of the box is closed and locked the ladder cannot be used, except by those possessing keys to the lock of the door.

The angle-irons c and c', when closed together, form abox or trough, and prevent the access of snow or ice to the inside of the box. Box-like pieces of iron may be used in place of the angle-irons c4 'c to form the uprights. (See Fig. 5A.)

The stationary ladder fire-escapes nonr in use are objectionable as defacing the building, and as they are constantly open and ready for use, they afford opportunity to intruders to enter the house. It has been attempted` to overcome this last objection by having the permanent ladder extend only from the second story up, and depending upon a movable ladder to descend from the second story; but this movable laddeiiis not always at hand. The above objections, however, are entirely overcome in my fire-escape, as the ladder,

when not in use, is folded up compactly against the Wall, and cannot be used, except by those who have a key to the box in which the lever and lower ends of the ladder are inclosed.

I claim herein as my invention l. In a fire-escape, the angle-irons c c', one of which issecured to the walls of ahouse, in combination With the rounds a, pivotally secured to the angle-irons,.whereby the angleirons may be folded together or opened out into ladder form, and the boxl, adapted to inclose the lower ends of the angle-irons when folded together, and provided with a suitable fastening device, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, the angle-irons c c, in combination with the rounds a, pivotally secured to the angle-irons, the chain e, rod f, and lever g, said lever .being adapted to raise the outer leg of the ladder,.and to hold it in lsuch raised position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fire-escape, the 'angle-irons c c, in combination With the rounds a, pivotally secured to the angle-irons, the chain e, rodf, le-

-ver g, and the box Z, adapted to inelose the lower ends of the angle-irons and the handle of the lever Whenthe ladder is folded, and provided with a door, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM M. MILLER. Vit-nesses:

J. SNoWnnN BELL, R. I-I. VVHiTTLusnY. 

